Events and Exhibitions
ACRA OPENS NEW
KWAZULU-NATAL BRANCH
The Air conditioning and Refrigeration Academy ( ACRA ) opened its doors in Johannesburg over twenty years ago and has grown to become part of the industry , both nationally and internationally .
ACRA has trained and qualified students from as far afield as Seychelles , Australia , St Helena , Tanzania , Botswana , Canada and parts of Europe . This put not only ACRA , but South African air conditioning and refrigeration training into the international arena .
Grant Laidlaw , founder of ACRA is himself , a well-known industry figure , a past president of the South African Institute of Refrigeration and Airconditioning ( SAIRAC ), and winner of the prestigious SAIRAC gold medal award .
Laidlaw is involved on various levels being the industry nominated subject matter expert for air conditioning and refrigeration . This puts him in close touch with industry and government which is beneficial for the development of ACRA and training needs in general , as well as assessment criteria in South Africa as a whole .
Late 2019 saw the implementation of plans to expand training into the KwaZulu-Natal region . 2020 , bringing along its challenges , delayed the official opening of the ACRA KZN centre , however on the 27 of November 2020 , an official celebration was held opening the doors as a fully-accredited air conditioning and refrigeration training , assessment and trade testing centre .
Accreditation was conducted through the SETAs and the Department of Higher Education for the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations ( QCTO ), and the National Artisan Moderation Body ( NAMB ).
The training and assessments are standardised and quality management and moderation is done on a centralised basis from the head office for the branch . This ensures that no matter where a student undergoes training with ACRA , they can expect the same high standard to be experienced .
ACRA KwaZulu-Natal is managed by Gordon Banks . Banks has over 23 years of experience in the industry . Banks ’ s experience includes automotive air conditioning , transport refrigeration , commercial and industrial air conditioning and refrigeration . He has had exposure to refrigeration in the maritime context , and further has refrigeration training experience facilitating from a TVET college . He is the current vice chairman of the KZN centre of SAIRAC . Banks is supported by :
• Claudia Lee ( Admin )
• Stewart Laidlaw ( Lecturer / Assessor / Moderator )
All Images : ACRA
From left : Jason Russel ( Mister Cool ), and Gordon Banks .
From left : Gordon Banks ( ACRA ), and Joe Donnelly ( Polar Air ).
• Chris Coetzee ( Lecturer / Assessor / Moderator )
• Rodney Adams ( Lecturer )
• Bongani Oliphant ( Workshop assistant )
• Lungile Gebashe ( House keeping )
The ACRA KwaZulu training facility comprises a 1660m 2 area with two workshop areas , four classrooms , a student canteen , an independent trade testing facility , offices storage areas and secure parking .
The centre is based in Berea / Umbilo , Durban , in a semi commercial location ideally suited for the training needs .
The opening and open day was well-attended with suppliers and contractors giving the centre a call . Guests where given a guided tour and enjoyed refreshments as well as the opportunity to socialise and meet new friends in the industry .
Continued on page 17
www . hvacronline . co . za RACA Journal I February 2021 15